Ask five developers in Pakistan what a website costs and you may get five very different answers. That is not always because someone is overcharging. The word "website" covers everything from a single page with your phone number to a full online ordering system with a staff dashboard.
This guide does not give you a magic number. Instead, it explains what actually changes the price, so you can describe what you need clearly and compare quotes fairly.
1. The type of website you need
The biggest factor is what the website has to do. Roughly, most business websites fall into one of these groups:
- One-page site: who you are, what you offer, how to contact you. Good for a new business or a single service.
- Business website: several pages, such as home, services, about, contact and perhaps a gallery or blog.
- Website with features: bookings, appointment requests, online orders, product catalogues or customer accounts.
- Web application: custom tools for your team, such as order dashboards, stock tracking or reports.
Each step up adds planning, building and testing time. A booking system, for example, has to handle mistakes, double bookings, notifications and a way for your staff to manage it.
2. Template or custom build
A website built on a ready-made template is usually cheaper and faster to launch. The trade-off is that you work within the template's layout, and many other businesses may look similar.
A custom-built site is designed around your content and customers. It takes longer, but it can be faster, more distinctive and easier to grow. Neither is always right: it depends on your budget, timeline and how much the site needs to do.
3. Design work
Design is not only colours and fonts. It includes how pages are structured, where buttons go, and how the site works on a phone. Ask each developer:
- Will I see a design before you start building?
- How many design directions or revisions are included?
- Is the design made for mobile first, or adapted later?
If you also need a logo or brand colours, that is a separate piece of work, usually done before the website design. See our graphic design service.
4. Content: text, photos and translations
Content is the most underestimated cost. Someone has to write your service descriptions, prepare photos and check prices and contact details. If the developer writes the text, takes photos or translates pages, the price will reflect that.
You can save time and money by preparing content before you start. Our checklist before hiring a web designer lists what to gather.
5. Speed, SEO and accessibility
Two websites can look the same but perform very differently. A well-built site loads quickly on mobile data, is easy for Google to understand, and can be used by people with different abilities.
Ask whether the quote includes basic SEO setup (page titles, descriptions, a sitemap, Google Search Console) and speed checks. Some quotes include this; others treat it as an extra. Our guide on why websites are slow explains why speed matters.
6. Domain, hosting and email
Every website needs a domain (like yourbusiness.com) and hosting (the server it runs on). These are usually yearly costs, separate from the build.
- Domain: renewed every year. Check the renewal price, not only the first-year offer.
- Hosting: ranges from free plans for simple sites to paid servers for busy or complex ones.
- Business email: email forwarding can be free, while full mailboxes usually cost per user.
Important: make sure the domain is registered in your name and that you have the login. If a developer owns your domain, moving later can be difficult.
7. Ongoing care after launch
A website is not finished on launch day. Software needs updates, content changes, and someone should check that forms and bookings still work. Ask whether the quote includes any support period, and what updates cost afterwards.
How to compare quotes fairly
When quotes are very different, they usually include different things. Put them side by side and check:
- Which pages and features are included?
- Is it a template or a custom design?
- Who writes the content and supplies the photos?
- Are domain, hosting and email included, and in whose name?
- Is basic SEO and Google Search Console setup included?
- What happens after launch: support, updates, fixes?
- Will you get the code and all logins at the end?
A clear written quote that answers these questions is worth more than a low number with no details.
Get a clear quote
At Aurave Studio we send a written quote after a short conversation about your business, so you know exactly what is included. See our web development service, or email us at hello@auravestudio.com.